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ASCO Establishes Center for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recently created the ASCO Center for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. The Center is intended to advance ASCO’s equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) goals across the organization and throughout the wider oncology community. ASCO Chief Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer Sybil Green will serve as the Center’s inaugural vice president and will guide the organization’s external and internal EDI efforts.
“The launch of the new Center for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion signals ASCO’s commitment and focus on creating and sustaining meaningful change that translates into high-quality, equitable cancer care for all individuals with cancer,” said ASCO Chief Executive Officer Clifford A. Hudis, MD, FACP, FASCO. “This formative step builds on ASCO’s longstanding commitment to health equity by placing this critical resource in the heart of ASCO’s organizational structure.”
This announcement follows the recent release of the ASCO Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Plan, which aims to infuse equity into the organization’s activities. The ASCO EDI Action Plan expands on the organization’s mission pillars of research, education, and quality:
- Research: Clinical trial results that more accurately represent the population of patients with cancer, are routinely offered as a treatment option, and provide equitable access to all patients;
- Education: The oncology workforce will better reflect the diversity of the population it treats and will be well-equipped to deliver high-quality, equitable care for every patient; and
- Quality: Removing barriers to obtaining cancer care and ensuring that practices have the resources needed to advocate for patients and sustainably deliver high-quality, equitable care.
The ASCO EDI Staff Advisory Council includes staff members from every department and works to ensure that ASCO has an inclusive culture where everyone feels informed, connected, and valued, and all workforce members have opportunities to achieve their potential.
“I’m deeply honored to be a part of ASCO’s work in this area and am deeply grateful for the many ASCO volunteers and staff who have provided expertise and guidance along the way,” said Green. “Our work is far from over, but we have a clear roadmap to support our progress and ensure our own accountability. Long-term success will depend on a dedicated, consistent and ongoing effort from ASCO and this new Center is evidence of just that.”
